Running With the Owls
10/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 3, 2006
Houston -
Britany Williams of St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio won SPC gold as a senior in the 800 and 1600 with times of 2:15.81 and 5:26.40, and was runner-up in the state cross country meet last fall. She was also a National Soccer Coaches Association of America academic all-America in soccer as a defender.
She is a freshman at Will Rice, and took a moment out of her schedule to answer a few questions:
Q: What was the single most important factor in you choosing Rice?
The most important factor was that I was comfortable when I came on my recruiting visit. I knew that choosing a college would be much more than running, that it would become my school, my home. I wanted to be on a good running team and be at a good school yes, but I also didn't want to feel uncomfortable.
Q: What got you into running?
In middle school, the cross country team needed one person to make a five-person team run at a meet just for that weekend. I was walking by the meet after my school's field hockey game and the cross country coach pulled me aside and said "just run a mile and a half." So I did it and won by over a few minutes. Basically, ever since that moment, I haven't stopped running.
Q: How does your life as a Rice student differ from that of a non-athlete?
Aside from the soreness and drinking excessive amounts of water, I don't waste most of my time sitting in our common room watching TV or something. When my suitemates get back from classes, sometimes they complain of having TOO MUCH free time. Practice keeps me busy and disciplined. Being on the team also opens up so many more opportunities for me to meet people. Coming into Rice I already had a group of girls that accepted me as one of their own.
Q: What is your favorite place you have ever done a training run?
The neighborhoods around Rice are beautiful. Sometimes I find myself getting distracted trying to think of how much money a certain house costs. Back at home in San Antonio, my favorite place to run was at McAllister Park because it had a wide variety of running/bike trails, asphalt and grass.
Q: Do you prefer cross country or track? Why?
Track is more of an adrenaline rush because you can see all of your opponents and everyone can see you. That's one of the best feelings in the world--just being on the track, knowing exactly where everyone is. But then again, if I'm not doing so well in a race, it's a horrible feeling to look ahead and see everyone beating you. But regardless, I'd say track.
Q: What is your favorite other sport or activity?
Soccer. I played soccer since I was four and planned on playing soccer in college. I was recruited by a few smaller schools to play soccer, and I played club soccer for seven years. Running was always second to soccer. Then one day, I realized that I was better at running and soccer was only holding me back from performing better, so I quit. But I still love soccer.
Q: Which Rice tradition are you most fond of, and why?
Since I'm a freshman I don't know too many of the Rice traditions. But I think I'm going to love Beer Bike. We had a mock beer bike during o-week and it was one of my favorite activities (maybe that's because we won). I also think the jacks between all the colleges are hilarious.
Q: If you could have only one book and one song as a castaway, what would you choose?
Normally I would say I would bring "Stolen Lives" by Malika Oufkir, but the book is really depressing and I probably wouldn't want a depressing book as a castaway. I also love "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner. And the one song I would choose to bring is "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. It's a classic.
Q: What is the funniest thing ever to happen to you in training or competition?
Tripping during cross country is always really embarrassing. Once I tripped on a rock because I turned my head to watch the largest squirrel I had ever seen. But no one saw me fall, so I don't think it was that funny. Once during a 3200m race, I took the first mile pretty slow and then decided to pick it up after the 4th lap. As I broke away from the pack, a few other girls followed me. One of the other girls in the pack shouted out "You cant keep up with her." It was a nice compliment, but once I finished I went up to the girl who had said that and we we're just cracking up because she didn't actually mean to say it out loud and the other girls were pretty upset with her.
Players Mentioned
